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Ten Classic Jewish Children’s Stories
Retold by Peninnah Schramr ~ Illustrated by Jeffrey Allon
Pitspopany Press (2000)
45 pages ~ 11.8 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
ISBN: Hard cover 0943706963 ~ Soft cover 0943706882
These classic tales of Miriam, Aaron, Abraham and others, reveal the traits that made them heroes of the Jewish people and the world. The stories in this book have become part of the legacy that links both the written tradition (The Torah) and the oral tradition (the Talmud) to the Jewish people.
Reviews:
From Publishers Weekly
Schram (Jewish Stories One Generation Tells Another) retells 10 well-known stories from the Torah and the Talmud in this anthology. Stories such as "The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars" and "Honi the Rainmaker" capture the drama of creation and the powerful providence of God. Schram points up the humor and irony of human weakness and the wisdom of Rabbis Hillel and Shammai in "Teach Me on One Foot." A set of questions follows each story and helps reinforce its moral. Allon's detailed watercolors vividly capture the emotions of Honi, Abraham and Miriam. Allon's lifelike portraits and Schram's engaging prose ensure that families will return to these familiar tales again and again. Ages 6-9.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"Allon's lifelike portraits and Schram's engaging prose ensure that families will return to these familiar tales again and again"
From School Library Journal
The 10 tales told here are drawn from the Talmud (Aggadah) and Midrash. "Drop by Drop by Drop" demonstrates the value of perseverance and the nobility of a good wife. "Miriam's Well" honors a woman who remains optimistic during a tragic time and saves the life of her infant brother. In "The Idol Smasher," a boy demonstrates to his father, a seller of idols, that clay figures have no power. Argument and reconciliation are the themes in "The Stone Pillow," "Aaron the Peacemaker," "The Power of the Tongue," and "The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars." "Honi the Rainmaker" shows a man of faith arguing with God, while "The Bitter and the Sweet," a humorous twist on the Elijah/Passover story, explains that after the bitter, there is happiness. In "Teach Me on One Foot," Rabbi Hillel encapsulates the sum of all Jewish belief to an arrogant young man: "Don't do to other people anything you don't want them to do to you." The simple narratives feature plenty of dialogue. The language, while dignified, is contemporary and on a level that young children will understand. Each selection is followed by three questions, some of which demand knowledge of additional Jewish teachings. Lavish full-page watercolors use dramatic close-ups and innovative perspectives to lend movement and action to the stories. A solid choice for group sharing and storytelling.
Marcia W. Posner, Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau County, Glen Cove, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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